Boons are the build
In Hades, your attack, special, and dash all take god effects. The boon you pick shapes the whole run more than the weapon does.
That is why boon choice comes before fine-tuning. A clean chain of one god out-values a pile of unrelated gifts.
What to grab early
Take a damage boon on your attack first. It shows up in every fight and scales with everything else you add.
After that, look for a god whose boons chain. Zeus lightning, for example, pairs with anything that hits often.
Defense has a seat at the table
A defensive boon is not a consolation prize. Staying alive lets your damage boons fire across a long room.
When a room looks brutal, trade one damage pick for a survival one. The death defiance usage page covers the backup plan.
Next: Hammer upgrade priorities.